Next Marquette Presents is on rare diseases

February 12, 2018

Wednesday, Feb. 28, marks the 11th annual Rare Disease Day, a day of recognition of the 350 million people around the world who are impacted by 7,000 life-threatening rare diseases, most of which have little to no options for treatment. Half of these people are children.

The College of Health Science’s upcoming Marquette Presents series welcomes Harmony 4 Hope, a nonprofit charity organization that aims to fuel scientific discovery and uplift affected children and families through music and music therapy. Harmony 4 Hope was founded by Marquette alumna Kerry Morgan Hughes (Arts ’93).

The free, public event will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 27, the eve of Rare Disease Day. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. in the Monaghan Ballroom on the third-floor of the Alumni Memorial Union, 1442 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee. Milwaukee-based musician Trapper Schoepp, a rare disease advocate and Harmony 4 Hope musical ambassador, will perform prior to the discussion which begins at 6 p.m.

Presenters include Marquette alumnae Adrienne Ott Provost (Arts ’89) and Sarah Smith Arts ’10), two mothers who will share their stories of caring for children affected by rare disease, and Peter Dankelson, a young man who was diagnosed at birth with Oculo-Auriculo-Vertebral Syndrome, a series of rare disorders that affect the eyes, ears and spine.

In the News is a weekly compilation of top media reports about Marquette University and members of the university community. It is sent via e-mail once a week on Wednesday afternoon. Past issues of In the News are available online.